Reciprocating pump apparatus and method using same

ABSTRACT

A reciprocating pump apparatus is disclosed. The reciprocating pump comprises a tubular member, a first electromagnet disposed around the tubular member, and a second electromagnet disposed around the tubular member. The reciprocating pump further comprises a first magnetic hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member and a second magnetic hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority from a U.S. Provisional Applicationhaving Ser. No. 60/662,023 filed Mar. 15, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a reciprocating pump comprising one or moremagnetic pistons slidingly disposed therein, and a method using same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most common pumps have one aspect that unify them, they are mechanicallycomplex. This complexity creates drawbacks, first in the construction ofthe pump and second, in its maintenance. Pumps are normally divided intotwo sections, the mechanical motion source and actual pump that movesthe fluid. The motion source may comprise one or more motors,alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC), or a variety of similarengines. Such pumps are costly to manufacture, and have a limited lifespan. The pump portion is also mechanically complex with numerous partsthat eventually wear out, thereby making access to the pump and frequentmaintenance essential. As the number of moving parts increases, so doesthe maintenance burden.

Referring now to FIG. 1, single piston reciprocating pump 100 includespiston 110 interconnected with a first end of connecting rod 120. Thesecond end of connecting rod 120 is pivotally attached to moveable cam130 at connection point 140. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, cam 130 is attached to a rotating shaft portion of a motoror similar engine. As those skilled in the art will further appreciate,piston 110, connecting rod 120, cam 130, and motor must be preciselymanufactured to reduce vibration.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, pumping is accomplished from thereciprocating motion of the piston and two valves, including intakevalve 150 and output valve 160. As cam 130 rotates from a first positionshown in FIG. 1 to a second position shown in FIG. 2, i.e. during thefilling stroke, piston 110 moves within tubular member 105 in a firstdirection toward cam 130 and fluid 170 is drawn into tubular member 105through intake valve 150. As cam 130 moves rotates through the secondposition of FIG. 2, intake valve 150 closes and output valve 160 opens.As cam 130 continues to rotate, piston 110 moves in a second directionaway from cam 130 thereby pushing fluid 170 out of tubular member 105and out of output valve 160 into output conduit 210.

What is needed is a reciprocating pump wherein the motion source iseliminated, or combined with the fluid handling portion, such that themechanical complexity is be reduced, with a subsequent reduction inmanufacturing costs and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant's invention includes a reciprocating pump apparatus. Thereciprocating pump comprises a tubular member comprising a midpoint, afirst end, and a second end. The reciprocating pump further comprises afirst electromagnet disposed around a first portion of the tubularmember disposed between the midpoint and said first end, and a secondelectromagnet disposed around a second portion of the tubular memberdisposed between the midpoint and the second end of said tubular member.The reciprocating pump further comprises a first permanent magnetdisposed on said tubular member between the first electromagnet and thesecond electromagnet

The reciprocating pump further comprises a first hollow piston slidablydisposed within the tubular member, wherein that first hollow pistoncomprises a first end comprising a first magnetic polarity, a one wayvalue opening outwardly disposed on the first end, and a second endcomprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein the first end of thefirst hollow piston faces the first end of the tubular member, and asecond hollow piston slidably disposed within the tubular member,wherein that second hollow piston comprises a first end comprising thesecond magnetic polarity, a one way value opening outwardly disposed onthe first end, and a second end comprising the first magnetic polarity,wherein the second end of the second hollow piston faces the second endof said tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in whichlike reference designators are used to designate like elements, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a prior art reciprocating pump;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the prior art pump ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electric schematic showing circuitry used to supply currentto one or more electromagnets disposed in certain embodiments ofApplicant's reciprocating pump assembly;

FIG. 4A shows a cross-section of one embodiment of Applicant'sreciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 shows circuitry disposed in a controller used to operate certainembodiments of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of Applicant's hollow magnetic pistonassembly;

FIG. 7A illustrates one step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid usingthe apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 7B illustrates a second step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 7C illustrates a third step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 7D illustrates a fourth step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing the apparatus of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 8A illustrates one step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid usinga second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 8B illustrates a second step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 8C illustrates a third step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 8D illustrates a fourth step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing a second embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 9A illustrates one step in Applicant's method to pump a fluid usinga third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 9B illustrates a second step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;

FIG. 9C illustrates a third step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus;and

FIG. 9D illustrates a fourth step in Applicant's method to pump a fluidusing a third embodiment of Applicant's reciprocating pump apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the followingdescription with reference to the Figures, in which like numbersrepresent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout thisspecification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language,means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in oneembodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout thisspecification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the sameembodiment.

In certain embodiments of Applicant's invention, Applicant's pumpassembly comprises a motion source in combination with external fluidhandling devices. In other embodiments of Applicant's invention,Applicant's pump assembly incorporates fluid handling devices withinApplicant's motion source.

In certain embodiments, Applicant's invention comprises a single,reciprocating, magnetic piston. In other embodiments, Applicant'sinvention comprises two reciprocating magnetic pistons. In certainembodiments, Applicant's invention comprises two reciprocating magnetic,hollow, pistons.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, embodiment 400 of Applicant'sapparatus comprises a tubular member 410 having a first end 412 a secondend 414, a midpoint 405, a first electromagnet 420 disposed aroundtubular member 410, a second electromagnet 430 disposed around tubularmember 410, a pair of permanent magnets 480 and 485 disposed at midpoint405 and between the two electromagnets 420 and 430, permanent magnet 460disposed on or around tubular member 410 between electromagnet 420 andend 412, and permanent magnet 465 disposed on or around tubular member410 between electromagnet 430 and end 414. Hollow magnetic pistons 440and 450 are slidably disposed within tubular member 410.

In certain embodiments, first electromagnet 420 comprises a coil wouldaround tubular member 410. In certain embodiments, second electromagnet430 comprises a coil wound around tubular member 410.

Referring now to FIGS. 4B, 6, and 7A, hollow magnetic piston 440comprises a tubular member 441 having an inner surface 443 which defineslumen 447 which extends through piston 440 from first end 442 to secondend 444. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, one way valve assembly446 is hingedly connected to member 441 by hinge assembly 445. In otherembodiments, Applicants' hollow magnetic pistons 440 and 450 maycomprise other one way valve designs.

First end 442 comprises a first magnetic polarity, and second end 444comprises the second, i.e. opposing, magnetic polarity. For the sake ofillustration, FIGS. 6 and 7A show the first magnetic polarity as “+”,and the second magnetic polarity as “−”. Such designations should not betaken as limiting.

Hollow magnetic piston 450 is similarly constructed, such that one wayvalve 456 is hingedly connected to first end 454, and such that firstend 454 comprises the second magnetic polarity, and such that second end452 comprises the first magnetic polarity.

FIGS. 7A through 7D illustrate the operation of apparatus 400. FIG. 7Ashows piston 440 disposed adjacent end 412 of tubular member 410, andpiston 450 disposed adjacent end 414 of tubular member 410. End 442 ofmagnetic piston 440 comprises a first magnetic polarity shown in FIG. 7Aas “+” polarity 710, and end 444 comprises a second magnetic polarityshown in FIG. 7A as “−” polarity 720. The designators “+” and “−” areused for illustration only.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7A, end 462 of permanent magnet460 comprises the second magnetic polarity. As those skilled in the artwill appreciate, because end 442 of piston 440 and end 462 of magnet 460each comprise the same magnetic polarity, a magnetic repulsion existsbetween end 442 and end 462 thereby limiting the travel of piston 440toward end 412 of tubular member 410 to the position shown in FIG. 7A.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7A, end 467 of permanent magnet465 comprises the second magnetic polarity. As those skilled in the artwill appreciate, because end 452 of piston 450 and end 467 of magnet 465each comprise the same magnetic polarity, a magnetic repulsion existsbetween end 452 and end 467 thereby limiting the travel of piston 450toward end 414 of tubular member 410 to the position shown in FIG. 7A.

When electromagnet 430 is energized to have the magnetic polaritiesshown in FIG. 7A, end 454 of piston 450 is magnetically attracted to end434 of electromagnet 430 thereby propelling piston inwardly withintubular member 410. As piston 450 moves inwardly, one-way valve 456remains closed, and piston 450 pushes fluid 730 through piston 440 andout of tubular member 410.

When electromagnet 420 is energized to have the magnetic polaritiesshown in FIG. 7A, end 444 of piston 440 is magnetically attracted to end422 of electromagnet 420 thereby propelling piston 440 inwardly withintubular member 410. One-way valve 446 remains open as piston 440 movesinwardly.

Referring now to FIG. 7B, end 444 of piston 440 comprises the samemagnetic polarity as does side 482 of magnet 480 and side 487 of magnet485. When piston 440 approached the midpoint 405 (FIG. 4B), end 442 ofpiston 440 is magnetically repelled by side 482 of magnet 480 and byside 487 of magnet 485. This magnetic repulsion causes piston 440 tostop moving inwardly within tubular member 410.

Similarly, end 454 of piston 450 comprises the same magnetic polarity asdoes side 482 of magnet 480, and side 487 of magnet 485. When piston 450approaches the midpoint, end 454 of piston 450 is magnetically repelledby side 482 of magnet 480 and by side 487 of magnet 485. This magneticrepulsion causes piston 450 to stop moving inwardly within tubularmember 410.

Referring now to FIG. 7C, the current direction through electromagnets420 and 430 is reversed, end 422 of electromagnet 420 and end 434 ofelectromagnet 430 comprise the same magnetic polarity. Piston end 442 isnow repelled by end 422 of electromagnet 420 causing piston 440 to moveoutwardly within tubular member 410. As piston 440 moves toward end 412of tubular member 410, one-way valve 446 remains closed causing piston440 to push fluid out of tubular member through end 412.

Similarly in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7C, piston end 454 isnow repelled by end 434 of electromagnet 430 causing piston 450 to moveoutwardly within tubular member 410. As piston 450 moves toward end 414of tubular member 410, one-way valve 456 opens allowing fluid 730 tofill the portion of tubular member 410 between pistons 440 and 450.

Referring to FIG. 7D, pistons 440 and 450 move outwardly within tubularmember 410 until magnetic repulsion between magnet 460 and piston end444 causes piston 440 to stop moving, and until magnetic repulsionbetween magnet 465 and end 452 of piston 450 causes piston 450 to stopmoving. The direction of current through electromagnets 420 and 430 isthen again reversed, as shown in FIG. 7A, and the process repeats.

In summary, FIGS. 7A through 7D illustrate the reciprocating movementsof magnetic pistons 440 and 450 within tubular member 410 caused byreversing the polarities of electromagnets 420 and 430. Applicants'invention includes instructions, such as the source code recited inAppendix A hereto, where those instructions are executed by acontroller, such as controller 500 (FIG. 5), to operate Applicant'sreciprocating pump 400 as shown in FIGS. 7A through 7D, and as describedherein.

Applicant's apparatus comprises an embodiment using magnetic pistonswhich are not hollow. Referring now to FIG. 8A, apparatus 800 comprisestubular member 410, electromagnets 420 and 430, and permanent magnets460 and 465 as described herein above, and optionally sensing coils 470and 475. Apparatus 800 further includes magnetic piston 840 and 850,wherein those pistons are not hollow. Pistons 840 and 850 operate in thereciprocating fashion described herein above as the magnetic polaritiesof electromagnets 420 and 430 are reversed.

Apparatus 800 further comprises fluid conduit 810 comprising an inverted“W” configuration such that conduit 810 interconnects with tubularmember 410 at conduit portions 822, 824, and 826. Conduit 810 includesone-way valves 820 and 830. As pistons 840 and 850 move inwardly fromthe positions shown in FIG. 8A to the positions shown in FIG. 8B, i.e.during the output stroke, fluid 730 is forced through open valve 820 andout of end 804 of apparatus 800. As pistons 840 and 850 moves outwardlyfrom the position shown in FIG. 8C to the positions shown in FIG. 8D,i.e. during the input stroke, fluid 730 is drawn into tubular member 410through valve 830.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, apparatus 900 utilizes a single solidpermanent magnet piston 940 slidably disposed within tubular member 910.Electromagnet 420 is wound around tubular member 910. Tubular member 910communicates with fluid conduit 920 on one end, and with fluid conduit930 on the opposing end. Permanent magnet 950 is disposed on theexterior surface of conduit 920 adjacent the intersection of tubularmember 910 and conduit 920. Permanent magnet 960 is disposed on theexterior surface of conduit 930 adjacent the intersection of tubularmember 910 and conduit 930.

Magnets 950 and 960 each present a repulsion force on magnetic piston940. These repulsive forces create a centering tendency to piston 940.

As the direction of the current through electromagnet 420 is alternated,the magnetic polarities of ends 422 and 424 are switched between a firstmagnetic polarity and a second magnetic polarity. The changing magneticpolarities of the ends of electromagnet 420 causes piston 940 to move ina reciprocating fashion within tubular member 910.

FIGS. 9A through 9D illustrated the movement of piston 940 as thepolarities of ends 422 and 424 of electromagnet 420 are switched. InFIGS. 9A and 9B, piston 940 moves toward magnet 950 forcing fluid 730disposed in the portion of tubular member 910 between piston 940 andconduit 920 out of tubular member 910, through open one-way valve 924,and out of conduit 920 through end 928. At the same time, fluid 730 isdrawn into tubular member 910 from conduit 930 through open one-wayvalve 932.

In FIGS. 9C and 9D, piston 940 moves toward magnet 960 forcing fluid 730disposed in the portion of tubular member 910 between piston 940 andconduit 930 out of tubular member 910, through open one-way valve 934,and out of conduit 930 through end 938. At the same time, fluid 730 isdrawn into tubular member 910 from conduit 920 through open one-wayvalve 922.

Referring again to FIGS. 9A through 9D, in certain embodiments end 928of conduit 920 and end 938 of conduit 930 are interconnected to form oneoutput, and/or end 926 of conduit 920 and end 936 of conduit 930 areinterconnected to form one input. The double interconnected embodimentallows for continual output flow in both piston stroke directions. Inanother embodiment, one output is interconnected to the opposite inputcreating only one input and output for the pump, making for output flowin only one piston stroke direction.

In certain embodiments, the same fluid is pumped from conduits 920 and930. In other embodiments, a first fluid is pumped from conduit 920 anda second fluid is pumped from conduit 930. The conduit setup will dependon the application.

Apparatus 900 does not require the use of sensing coils or other sensingdevices. Moreover, in certain embodiments apparatus 900 does not includeany control electronics of any kind. In certain embodiments, apparatus900 will operate directly off a sixty-hertz, 110-volt alternatingcurrent utility power. In other embodiments, apparatus 900 operatesusing higher or lower alternating current frequencies, and/or othervoltage ranges.

Apparatus 900 is not limited to using alternating current. In certainembodiments, apparatus 900 further comprises the control electronicsdescribed hereinbelow, and/or comprises the piston sensors describedhereinbelow. When operated without sensors and control electronics,apparatus 900 requires no power conditioning. In these embodiments,electromagnet 420 is designed to limit the current and provide enoughheat dissipation to operate continuously.

Applicants' invention includes instructions, where those instructionsare executed by a controller, such as controller 500 (FIG. 5), tooperate Applicant's reciprocating pump 900 as shown in FIGS. 9A through9D, and as described herein.

In order to reverse the polarities of electromagnet 420 and in certainembodiments electromagnet 430 to cause pistons 440/450, 840/850, orpiston 940, to move in a reciprocating fashion within tubular member410/910, Applicant's apparatus 400, 800, and 900, comprises acontrollable alternating current (AC) source. In certain embodiments,Applicant's AC source comprises utility power without further controlcircuit and/or power conditioning. In other embodiments, Applicant's ACsource comprises power conditioning and/or control circuitry known tothose skilled in the art.

The following Example is presented to further illustrate to personsskilled in the art how to make the invention, and to identify onepreferred embodiment thereof. This example is not intended aslimitations, however, upon the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE

This Example utilizes reciprocating pump 400 (FIGS. 4A, 4B). Referringto FIG. 3, circuitry 300 controls the direction of current throughelectromagnets, such as electromagnets 420 (FIG. 4) and 430 (FIG. 4).Circuitry 300, comprises dual H-bridge circuits. The H-bridge circuitgets its name from the H shape the circuit makes. This design implementsfour transistors for each H-bridge. The collectors on the top twotransistors are connected together and to the power supply that is goingto be reversed. These transistor emitters are then connected to thecollectors on the transistors directly below. Also connected are thegates of the upper transistors to the gates of the opposite lowertransistors. The two emitters on the lower transistors are thenconnected to ground.

The transistors chosen were Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT)model number MGP15N40CL. These transistors offered large current andvoltage handling capabilities of fifteen amps and four hundred and tenvolts, which was needed because of the abuse they would receive whiletesting. This particular model of IGBTs was ideal as their originalintended use was as coil drivers for car ignitions. Being ignitiontransistors, they have internal protection diodes that allow the largevoltage draw that is created when the current is stopped in the coils,to dissipate through the transistors. The TO-220 package in which thesetransistors came was easily attached to a heat sink.

The eight IGBT transistors were attached on the underside of a printedcircuit board and then bent so all the metal plates on the one side ofthe transistors faced down. This allowed all the transistors to beattached to a single large heat sink. Attaching them this way made itnecessary to insulate the metal plates on the transistors from the heatsink because these plates also act as a collector point for thetransistors. If they were attached directly to the heat sink, a shortwould occur between the collectors on the bottom of the H and also fromthe top to the bottom. Also attached to this heat sink was the five-voltDC regulator for the digital electronics that comes in a TO-220 package.All these TO-220 cases were insulated from the heat sink using siliconecaulk which helped to hold them in place. Holding them at the correctheight are screws with standoffs between the heat sink and printedcircuit board (PCB). Because the heat sink doubles as the base for thePCB these screws also support the PCB.

An AC source that moves the pistons back and forth cannot pump anything,there must be feedback from the pistons so the AC source can reverse thecurrent with the correct timing. Two methods were utilized to receivethis feedback. The first was introducing a five-volt DC signal voltageinto the pump power supply and then reading the voltage drop across thecoil. This voltage drop was interpreted by a ten-bit analog to digitalconverter within the Basic X 24 Microcontroller by Net Media. Thismicrocontroller is a small computer with 32k of onboard EEPROM (statichard drive), 400 bytes of RAM, multitasking capabilities and programexecution speed of sixty microseconds per sixteen-bit integer additionor subtraction. Reading the analog signal this way presents one majorproblem, the power provided to the gates on the IGBTs must be differentthan the sample voltage and therefore different than the power providedto the microcontroller.

Two separate nine-volt DC power supplies were used. They were separatedand regulated using optical isolators. Four separate channels of opticalisolation were needed, one for each direction in both H-bridges. MCT9001two channel low current Optocouplers were selected because two packagesfit into a standard sixteen-pin socket and gave me the four channels Ineeded (Fairchild Semiconductors, 2003). An optical isolator has aphysical space between the two power supplies that needs to be isolated.Isolation was accomplished by having a light emitting diode (LED) on oneside and a phototransistor on the other in a single package. When acurrent flows through the LED, it allows the second current to flowthrough the phototransistor. This second current then supplies the gateson the IGBTs to turn them off or on. Now that the power supply for themicrocontroller is isolated from the power going to the transistors,contamination from the gate current in the five volt signal is no longera problem. Knowing that a change in magnetic field within an activesolenoid changes the resistance of the solenoid and therefore thevoltage drop across the solenoid, the sample voltage drop can be readand related to the main voltage through the coil and the piston positionwithin it.

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 7A through 7D, and 8A through 8D, in certainembodiments Applicant's apparatus comprises sensing coils 470 and 475wrapped around the tubular member distal to the electromagnets. When achange in magnetic field occurs within a coil there is a voltage inducedwithin the coil. Faraday's law of induction states the instantaneouselectrical magnetic flux isE=−NΔΦB/Δtwhere N is the number of turns in the coil and ΔΦB is the change inmagnetic field.

The induced voltage was then measured using the analog to digitalconverter on the microcontroller. An increase in this voltage indicatesthat the piston had entered the coil and the microcontroller wouldreverse the current through the primary coil to return the piston tocenter. Either of these sensing methods could be selected to monitor thepiston locations and both were incorporated into controller 500 (FIG.5.)

Four thermistors are incorporated into this circuit located on eachH-bridge and primary coil. When operating at higher voltages thethermistors located on the primary coils will allow the microcontrollerto turn the pump off if the temperature rises too high, which couldoccur if water is no longer present within the pump. The thermistorslocated on the H-bridges also turn the pump off in case of overheatingcaused by a short. Temperatures and control information is displayed ona user interface.

User Interface

In certain embodiments, Applicant's microcontroller was interconnectedwith a computing device. In other embodiments, Applicant'smicrocontroller was interconnected with Applicant's user interface. Incertain embodiments, Applicant's user interface comprises a four bytwenty liquid crystal display (LCD) with microcontroller serialinterface and four contact switches to change variables within themicrocontroller. Applicant constructed these parts in an ABS plastic boxthat was connected to the control circuit and microcontroller through afourteen-wire cable. This box also acted as a connection point for theserial interface cable that was needed to change the code on themicrocontroller. The code for the microcontroller is written in a formof basic designed for the microcontroller and interfaces withsurrounding electronics.

The interface code consumed the most RAM within the microcontrollerbecause of the continual refresh rate of the LCD. The code within themicrocontroller continually monitors the temperatures of all fourthermistors and displays them on the LCD along with the maximumtemperatures at which the pump is turned off. These maximums can be setusing the four contact switches. Turning the pump on and off andcentering the pistons is also controlled in this way. Currently I haveprovided a manual control of the piston's in and out delays for testing.The complete code is recited in Appendix A.

Pump Construction

Apparatus 400 comprises four separate parts that needed to be designed:the pistons, the tubular member (pump body), and the coils, both primaryand secondary. Neodymium ring magnets, (12.70 mm external diameter, 1.10mm internal diameter and 3.20 mm height), were selected as pistonsbecause of their shape and strength. They could be stacked to makepistons of any length, with two constraints. The pistons needed to belong enough so they did not turn within the tubular member, but if theywere made too long, excess energy would be lost in moving heavy pistons.The final length of the pistons was 35.60 mm. These pistons were encasedin a brass sleeve to protect the thin nickel coating that keeps moistureoff of the iron inside of the magnets. These sleeves also provide a tabthat holds the flap valve on one end of the pistons.

The tubular member was a copper pipe with an internal diameter thatmatched the external diameter of the pistons. Attached to either end ofthis pipe were male threaded ends that hose connectors were thenattached to. Also attached to the tubular member were three Neodymiumdisk magnets, the same size as the rings, on either end of the tubularmember. These magnets all faced towards or away from the tubular memberso when the pistons approached from inside of the tubular member, theywould be repelled back keeping them within the coil's magnetic field.There was no need to have magnets in the center to keep the pistonsinside the coils because the pistons were placed in opposition of eachother within the tubular member.

In order to create a coil with maximum internal magnetic field strength,the length of the coil, internal and external diameters of the coil, andwire size all had to be considered. The coil measurements that deliverthe maximum field strength were found using the following equations:α=Ro/Riβ=L/2RiHo=(NI F(α, β))/2βRi(α−1)F(α, β)=[arcsinh(α/β)−arcsinh(1/β)]where Ro is the radius of the coil, Ri is the radius of the tubularmember, L is the length of the coil, Ho is the magnetic field strengthin the center of the coil, N is the number of wraps in the coil and I isthe current through the coil. By using the resistance equationRc=(4p(Roˆ2−Riˆ2)L)/Dˆ4where D is the diameter of the wire used and p is the coefficient ofresistivity for the material, the current was calculated knowing thatthe magnetic field strength is directly proportional to voltage. Thenumber of wraps was calculated using the wire length equation where ƒ isa filling factor due to wire overlap.Lw=(4ƒ(Roˆ2−Riˆ2)L)/Dˆ2Twenty-two gauge copper magnet wire was used with a known internaldiameter of 15.87 mm. A 60.0 mm coil length was selected because it isroughly twice the length of the pistons. This length was chosen becausecoil length is inversely proportional to center field strength makinglonger coils more polar. Knowing these dimensions, a coil with acalculated radius of 18.4 mm produced the maximum field strength.

These coils were wrapped without a form around the copper tubular memberthat was wrapped with wax paper. Wax paper was used so the coils couldbe moved on the tubular member after the wax paper was removed. Thiscreated a small space between the epoxy-encapsulated coil and thetubular member. The secondary coils were wound to six layers high andtwenty-seven wraps long. The exact size was not that important as longthe piston will induce a voltage within the coil.

The finished pump was then tested by varying the center and out pistondelays while measuring the flow rate of water at thirty centimeters ofrise. Current draw was also recorded while pumping at these differentfrequencies. The voltage variation of the coils was recorded along withthe current draw of the digital electronic.

Results

The pump operated the most efficient at 5.8 hertz with a center delay of0.077 seconds and an out delay of 0.095 seconds. Running at this speed,the pump delivered four liters per minute flow at a thirty-centimeterrise. The current draw while pumping did not exceed three amps at twelvevolts. The pump control consumed 0.106 amps while running with the backlight on the LCD using 0.186 amps at nine volts DC. The opticalisolators and IGBT gates consumed at most, while running, 0.00210 ampsat nine volts DC.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andadaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the present invention as set forthin the following claims.

1. A reciprocating pump apparatus, comprising: a tubular membercomprising a first length, a first end, and a second end; a magneticpiston slidingly disposed within said tubular member, wherein saidpiston comprises a second length, a first end comprising a firstmagnetic polarity, and a second end comprising a second magneticpolarity, wherein said first length is greater than said second length;an electromagnet comprising a comprising a first end and a second end,said electromagnet comprising a coil disposed around said tubularmember, wherein passing an electric current through said coil in a firstdirection induces a first magnetic polarity in said first end of saidelectromagnet and a second magnetic polarity in said second end of saidelectromagnet, and wherein passing an electric current through said coilin a second direction induces a second magnetic polarity in said firstend of said electromagnet and a first magnetic polarity in said secondend of said electromagnet; a first fluid conduit interconnected withsaid first end of said tubular member, wherein said first fluid conduitcomprises a first portion extending outwardly from said first end ofsaid tubular member in a first direction, and a second portion extendingoutwardly from said first end of said tubular member in a seconddirection.
 2. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a controllable alternating current (AC) source interconnectedwith said electromagnet.
 3. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: a first one way valve disposed in said first portionof said first fluid conduit; a second one-way valve disposed in saidsecond portion of said first fluid conduit;
 4. The reciprocating pumpapparatus of claim 3, further comprising a permanent magnet disposed insaid first fluid conduit opposite the interconnection with said firstend of said tubular member;
 5. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim1, further comprising: a second fluid conduit interconnected with saidsecond end of said tubular member, wherein said second fluid conduitcomprises a first portion extending outwardly from said second end ofsaid tubular member in a first direction, and a second portion extendingoutwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a seconddirection.
 6. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 5, furthercomprising: a third one way valve disposed in said first portion of saidsecond fluid conduit; and a fourth one way valve disposed in said secondportion of said second fluid conduit.
 7. The reciprocating pumpapparatus of claim 6, further comprising a permanent magnet disposed insaid second fluid conduit opposite the interconnection with said secondend of said tubular member.
 8. A method to pump a fluid in one or morefluid conduits, comprising the steps of: supplying a reciprocating pumpapparatus comprising a tubular member comprising a first length, a firstend, and a second end; a magnetic piston slidingly disposed within saidtubular member, wherein said piston comprises a second length, a firstend comprising a first magnetic polarity, and a second end comprising asecond magnetic polarity, wherein said first length is greater than saidsecond length; an electromagnet comprising a comprising a first end anda second end, said electromagnet comprising a coil disposed around saidtubular member, wherein passing an electric current through said coil ina first direction induces a first magnetic polarity in said first end ofsaid electromagnet and a second magnetic polarity in said second end ofsaid electromagnet, and wherein passing an electric current through saidcoil in a second direction induces a second magnetic polarity in saidfirst end of said electromagnet and a first magnetic polarity in saidsecond end of said electromagnet; a first fluid conduit interconnectedwith said first end of said tubular member, wherein said first fluidconduit comprises a first portion extending outwardly from said firstend of said tubular member in a first direction and a first one wayvalve disposed in said first portion of said first fluid conduit whereinsaid first one way valve opens inwardly toward said tubular member, anda second portion extending outwardly from said first end of said tubularmember in a second direction and a second one-way valve disposed in saidsecond portion of said first fluid conduit wherein said second one wayvalve opens outwardly away from said tubular member; a second fluidconduit interconnected with said second end of said tubular member,wherein said second fluid conduit comprises a first portion extendingoutwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a firstdirection and a third one way valve disposed in said first portion ofsaid second fluid conduit wherein said third one way valve opensinwardly toward said tubular member, and a second portion extendingoutwardly from said second end of said tubular member in a seconddirection, and a fourth one way valve disposed in said second portion ofsaid second fluid conduit wherein said fourth one way valve opensoutwardly away from said tubular member; introducing a first fluid intosaid first portion of said first fluid conduit; passing a first electriccurrent through said coil to polarize said electromagnet to attract saidmoveable piston to said second end of said tubular member; filling saidfirst end of said tubular member with said first fluid; passing a secondelectric current through said coil to polarize said electromagnet toattract said moveable piston to said first end of said tubular member;pushing said first fluid from said first end of said tubular member intoand through said second portion of said first fluid conduit.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising the step of alternatingly passingsaid first current and said second current through said coil.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein said supplying a reciprocating pump apparatusstep further comprises supplying a reciprocating pump apparatuscomprising a controllable alternating current source interconnected withsaid electromagnet
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising thesteps of: introducing a second fluid into said first portion of saidsecond fluid conduit; passing said second electric current through saidcoil to polarize said electromagnet to attract said moveable piston tosaid first end of said tubular member; filling said second end of saidtubular member with said second fluid; passing said first electriccurrent through said coil polarize said electromagnet to attract saidmoveable piston to said second end of said tubular member; pushing saidsecond fluid from said second end of said tubular member into andthrough said second portion of said second fluid conduit.
 12. The methodof claim 11, further comprising the step of alternatingly passing saidfirst current and said second current through said coil.
 13. Areciprocating pump apparatus, comprising: a tubular member comprising amidpoint, a first end, and a second end; a first electromagnet disposedaround a first portion of said tubular member, wherein said firstportion is disposed between said midpoint and said first end; a secondelectromagnet disposed around a second portion of said tubular member,wherein said second portion is disposed between said midpoint and saidsecond end of said tubular member; a first permanent magnet disposed onsaid tubular member between said first electromagnet and said secondelectromagnet; a first magnetic piston slidably disposed between withinsaid tubular member, wherein said first magnetic piston comprises afirst end comprising a first magnetic polarity, and a second endcomprising a second magnetic polarity, wherein said first end of saidfirst hollow piston faces said first end of said tubular member; asecond magnetic piston slidably disposed within said tubular member,wherein said second magnetic piston comprises a first end comprisingsaid second magnetic polarity, and a second end comprising said firstmagnetic polarity, wherein said second end of said second hollow pistonfaces said second end of said tubular member.
 14. The reciprocating pumpapparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a second permanent magnetdisposed on said tubular member between said first electromagnet andsaid second electromagnet.
 15. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim13, further comprising: a third permanent magnet disposed on saidtubular member between said first electromagnet and said first end 412;a fourth permanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between saidsecond electromagnet and said second end.
 16. The reciprocating pumpapparatus of claim 13, wherein said first magnetic piston furthercomprises a first hollow magnetic piston comprising a first one wayvalue opening outwardly disposed on said first end of said first hollowmagnetic piston, said second magnetic piston further comprises a secondhollow magnetic piston comprising a second one way value openingoutwardly disposed on said first end of said second hollow magneticpiston.
 17. The reciprocating pump apparatus of claim 13 furthercomprising a controllable alternating current source interconnected withsaid first electromagnet and with said second electromagnet.
 18. Amethod to pump a fluid, comprising the steps of: providing areciprocating pump apparatus, comprising a tubular member comprising amidpoint, a first end, and a second end; a first electromagnet disposedaround a first portion of said tubular member disposed between saidmidpoint and said first end, wherein said first electromagnet comprisesa first end facing said first end and a second end facing said midpoint;a second electromagnet disposed around a second portion of said tubularmember disposed between said midpoint and said second end of saidtubular member, wherein said second electromagnet comprises a first endfacing said midpoint and a second end facing said second end; a firstpermanent magnet disposed on said tubular member between said firstelectromagnet and said second electromagnet; a first hollow pistonslidably disposed between within said tubular member, wherein said firsthollow piston comprises a first end comprising a first magneticpolarity, a first one way value opening outwardly disposed on said firstend, and a second end comprising a second magnetic polarity, whereinsaid first end of said first hollow piston faces said first end of saidtubular member; a second hollow piston slidably disposed within saidtubular member, wherein said second hollow piston comprises a first endcomprising said second magnetic polarity, a first one way value openingoutwardly disposed on said first end, and a second end comprising saidfirst magnetic polarity, wherein said second end of said second hollowpiston faces said second end of said tubular member; supplying a fluidto said second end of said tubular member; filling said tubular memberwith said fluid; passing a first electric current through said firstelectromagnet to induce said first magnetic polarity in the second endof said first electromagnet; passing a second electric current throughsaid second electromagnet to induce said first magnetic polarity in saidfirst end of said second electromagnet; moving said first hollow pistonwithin said tubular member such that said second end of said firstelectromagnet is disposed at said midpoint; moving said second hollowpiston within said tubular member such that said first end of saidsecond electromagnet is disposed at said midpoint; passing a thirdelectric current through said first electromagnet to induce said firstmagnetic polarity in the first end of said first electromagnet; passinga fourth electric current through said second electromagnet to inducesaid first magnetic polarity in said second end of said secondelectromagnet; moving said first hollow piston within said tubularmember such that said first end of said first electromagnet is disposedat said first end of said tubular member; moving said second hollowpiston within said tubular member such that said second end of saidsecond electromagnet is disposed at said second end of said tubularmember; pushing said fluid outwardly from said tubular member throughsaid first end.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the stepsof: alternatingly passing said first current and said third currentthrough said first electromagnet; and alternatingly passing said secondcurrent and said fourth current through said second electromagnet. 20.The method of claim 19, wherein said supplying a reciprocating pumpapparatus step further comprises supplying a reciprocating pumpapparatus comprising a controllable alternating current sourceinterconnected with said first electromagnet and with said secondelectromagnet, wherein said controllable alternating current sourceperforms the steps of claim 19.